TOW Missile Variants and Saber System Quiz

Anti-Armor Weapon Systems

• The M98A2 Javelin weapon system is man-portable, medium-range, anti-tank.
• It consists of a Command Launch Unit (CLU) and a reusable Javelin round.
• The CLU components include day/night sights, gunner controls, and display indicators.
• The Javelin round includes a Launch Tube Assembly (LTA) and Battery Cooling Unit (BCU).
• The system is capable of defeating current and projected armor.
• Max range is 2,500 meters.
• Minimum engagement ranges: top attack - 150 meters; direct attack - 65 meters.

M98A2 Javelin Weapon System Components and Functions

• The Detector Dewar Cooler (DDC), Night Vision Sight (NVS), Seeker Trigger, and Fire Trigger are key components with specific functions.
• The Seeker Trigger initiates seeker mode after track gate adjustment

M41A7 Saber Weapon System Characteristics

• The Saber is a heavy, anti-tank precision fire weapon system designed for armored vehicles.
• Subsystems include the launch tube, Target Acquisition Subsystem (TAS), Traversing Unit (TU), tripod, Fire Control Subsystem (FCS), Lithium Power Source (LPS), and Position Attitude Determination Subsystem (PADS).
• Enables day/night and all-weather operation with a day sight or NVS.
• The system includes PADS for precise geographic coordinate determination using a Laser Rangefinder (LRF).

TOW Guided Missile System Characteristics

• The TOW is a tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-to-command link-guided missile system.
• Max effective range: 3750 m
• Minimum range: 65m
• Tow2B Aero max range: 4200m
• Minimum range: 200m
• Includes WFOV (4X) and NFOV (12X) sights

M41A7 Saber Ammunition (BGM-71C, BGM-71D, etc.)

• Specific types of ammunition like BGM-71C (ITOW) are characterized by max range, minimum arming distance, warhead specifications (weight and explosive type), velocity, and weight.
• Additional types, like BGM-71D (TOW 2), BGM-71E (TOW 2A), BGM-71F(TOW 2B), BGM-71F-3 (TOW 2B Aero), BGM-71H, vary in fielding dates, maximum ranges, arming distances, warheads and improvements (e.g., improvements like thermal beacon, flight motor).

Anti-Armor Weapon System Engagement Methods

• Two methods of initial engagement: On-Order Fire Control and Event-Oriented Fire Control.
• On-Order Fire Control involves one person controlling fire.
• Event-Oriented Fire control waits for enemy action/event before firing.
• Weapon categories: Most Dangerous (engaging friendly unit), Dangerous (has potential to engage friendly unit), Least Dangerous (not powerful enough to destroy friendly unit).

Anti-Armor Capabilities and Limitations

• Anti-armor units can use different firing patterns (e.g., Frontal, Cross-fire, Depth).
• The units' capabilities and limitations vary depending on the weapons used (e.g., Light Anti-Armor, Medium Anti-Armor, Heavy Anti-Armor Weapons).
• Considerations include: Cover and concealment, Dispersion, Mutual Support, Standoff Range, and Flank Shots.

Anti-Armor Weapon Methods of Engagement and Limitations

• Understanding Heavy, Medium, and Light anti-armor weapons (Javelin, TOW, Tanks, SMAWS, AT-4s) and their relative engagement methods.
• Concepts: Anti-armor engagement is a method of engaging enemy targets at maximum ranges, typically employed against armored formations.
• Advantages: Can engage enemy armor from a distance for a more extended time; Allows for more kills forward of the friendly positions.
• Disadvantages: Early detection of friendly positions; Lengthy exposure to enemy fire; flank shots may be more difficult to obtain at greater ranges.

Anti-Armor Employing Positioning and Displacements

• Use of primary, alternate and supplementary positions
• Deployment methods, including considerations like unit, Echelon, mindset, cover/concealment; dispersion; mutual support; standoff range, flank shots. Employing anti-armor weapons effectively includes using methods like deploying weapons by unit and echelon, understanding the ambush method, considering the key elements of a position such as cover and concealment, dispersion, mutual support, standoff range, and flank shots.